•

Non-U.S.

Loans

: WARM method that incorporates a subset of historical loss data, expected weighted average remaining maturity of our loan pool, and an economic view.

•

Unique Loans

: a probability of default and loss given default model, assessed on an individual basis.

•

Impaired Loans

impairment is indicated when it is deemed probable that we will not be able to collect all amounts due to us pursuant to the contractual terms of the loan. Determining that a loan is impaired requires significant judgment from management and is based on several factors including (i) the underlying collateral performance, (ii) discussions with the borrower, (iii) borrower events of default, and (iv) other facts that impact the borrower’s ability to pay the contractual amounts due under the terms of the loan. If a loan is determined to be impaired, we record the impairment as a component of our CECL reserve by applying the practical expedient for collateral dependent loans. The CECL reserve is assessed on an individual basis for these loans by comparing the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, to the book value of the respective loan. These valuations require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, discount rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability and cost of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders, and other factors deemed relevant by our Manager. Actual losses, if any, could ultimately differ from these estimates. We only expect to realize the impairment losses if and when such amounts are deemed nonrecoverable upon a realization event. This is generally at the time a loan is repaid, or in the case of foreclosure, when the underlying asset is sold, but

non-recoverability

may also be concluded if, in our determination, it is nearly certain that all amounts due will not be collected.

We adopted ASU

2016-13

using the modified-retrospective method for all financial assets measured at amortized cost. Prior to our adoption, we had no loan loss provisions on our consolidated balance sheets. We recorded a cumulative-effective adjustment to the opening retained earnings in our consolidated statement of equity as of January 1, 2020. The following table details the impact of this adoption ($ in thousands):


	Impact of ASU 2016-13 Adoption
Assets:
Loans
U.S. Loans	$	8,955
Non-U.S. Loans		3,631
Unique Loans		1,356

CECL reserve on loans	$	13,942

CECL reserve on held-to-maturity debt securities		445
Liabilities:
CECL reserve on unfunded loan commitments		3,263

Total impact of ASU 2016-13 adoption on retained earnings	$	17,650

Contractual Term and Unfunded Loan Commitments

Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of each loan, adjusted for expected prepayments. As part of our quarterly review of our loan portfolio, we assess the expected repayment date of each loan, which is used to determine the contractual term for purposes of computing our CECL reserve.

Additionally, the expected credit losses over the contractual period of our loans are subject to the obligation to extend credit through our unfunded loan commitments. The CECL reserve for unfunded loan commitments is adjusted quarterly, as we consider the expected timing of future funding obligations over the estimated life of the loan. The considerations in estimating our CECL reserve for unfunded loan commitments are similar to those used for the related outstanding loan receivables.

Credit Quality Indicator

Our risk rating is our primary credit quality indicator in assessing our current expected credit loss reserve. Our Manager performs a quarterly risk review of our portfolio of loans, and assigns each loan a risk rating based on a variety of factors, including, without limitation, LTV, debt yield, property type, geographic and local market dynamics, physical condition, cash flow volatility, leasing and tenant profile, loan structure and exit plan, and project sponsorship. Based on a

5-point

scale, our loans are rated “l” through “5,” from less risk to greater risk, relative to our loan portfolio in the aggregate, which ratings are defined as follows:


		1 -		Very Low Risk

		2 -		Low Risk

		3 -		Medium Risk

		4 -		High Risk/Potential for Loss: A loan that has a risk of realizing a principal loss.

		5 -		Impaired/Loss Likely: A loan that has a very high risk of realizing a principal loss or has otherwise incurred a principal loss.

Estimation of Economic Conditions

In addition to the WARM method computations and probability-weighted models described above, our CECL reserve is also adjusted to reflect our estimation of the current and future economic conditions that impact the performance of the commercial real estate assets securing our loans. These estimations include unemployment rates, interest rates, and other macroeconomic factors impacting the likelihood and magnitude of potential credit losses for our loans during their anticipated term. In addition to the CMBS data we have licensed from Trepp LLC, we have also licensed certain macroeconomic financial forecasts to inform our view of the potential future impact that broader economic conditions may have on our loan portfolio’s performance. These estimations require significant judgments about future events that, while based on the information available to us as of the balance sheet date, are ultimately indeterminate and the actual economic condition impacting our portfolio could vary significantly from the estimates we made as of June 30, 2021.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We classify all derivative financial instruments as either other assets or other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value.

On the date we enter into a derivative contract, we designate each contract as (i) a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, or net investment hedge, (ii) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability, or cash flow hedge, (iii) a hedge of a recognized asset or liability, or fair value hedge, or (iv) a derivative instrument not to be designated as a hedging derivative, or

non-designated

hedge. For all derivatives other than those designated as

non-designated

hedges, we formally document our hedge relationships and designation at the contract’s inception. This documentation includes the identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, its risk management objectives, strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction and our evaluation of the effectiveness of its hedged transaction.

On a quarterly basis, we also formally assess whether the derivative we designated in each hedging relationship is expected to be, and has been, highly effective in offsetting changes in the value or cash flows of the hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective at hedging the designated exposure, hedge accounting is discontinued and the changes in fair value of the instrument are included in net income prospectively. Effective April 1, 2020, our net investment hedges are assessed using a method based on changes in spot exchange rates. Gains and losses, representing hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, are recognized in interest income on our consolidated statements of operations over the contractual term of our net investment hedges on a systematic and rational basis, as documented at hedge inception in accordance with our accounting policy election. All other changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments that qualify as hedges are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on our consolidated financial statements. Deferred gains and losses are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and into net income in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings, and are presented in the same line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. For cash flow hedges, this is typically when the periodic swap settlements are made, while for net investment hedges, this occurs when the hedged item is sold or substantially liquidated. To the extent a derivative does not qualify for hedge accounting and is deemed a

non-designated

hedge, the changes in its fair value are included in net income concurrently.

Secured Debt and Asset-Specific Debt

We record investments financed with secured debt or asset-specific debt as separate assets and the related borrowings under any secured debt or asset-specific debt are recorded as separate liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. Interest income earned on the investments and interest expense incurred on the secured debt or asset-specific debt are reported separately on our consolidated statements of operations.

Senior Loan Participations

In certain instances, we finance our loans through

the non-recourse syndication

of a senior loan interest to a third-party. Depending on the particular structure of the syndication, the senior loan interest may remain on our GAAP balance sheet or, in other cases, the sale will be recognized and the senior loan interest will no longer be included in our consolidated financial statements. When these sales are not recognized under GAAP we reflect the transaction by recording a loan participations sold liability on our consolidated balance sheet, however this gross presentation does not impact stockholders’ equity or net income. When the sales are recognized, our balance sheet only includes our remaining subordinate loan and not

the non-consolidated senior

interest we sold.

Term Loans

We record our term loans as liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. Where applicable, any issue discount or transaction expenses are deferred and amortized through the maturity date of the term loans as additional

non-cash

interest expense.

Convertible Notes

The “Debt with Conversion and Other Options” Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, requires the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement, to be separately accounted for in a manner that reflects the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The initial proceeds from the sale of convertible notes are allocated between a liability component and an equity component in a manner that reflects interest expense at the rate of similar nonconvertible debt that could have been issued at such time. The equity component represents the excess initial proceeds received over the fair value of the liability component of the notes as of the date of issuance. We measured the estimated fair value of the debt component of our convertible notes as of the respective issuance dates based on our nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The equity component of each series of our convertible notes is reflected within additional

paid-in

capital on our consolidated balance sheet, and the resulting issue discount is amortized over the period during which such convertible notes are expected to be outstanding (through the maturity date) as additional

non-cash

interest expense. The additional

non-cash

interest expense attributable to such convertible notes will increase in subsequent periods through the maturity date as the notes accrete to their par value over the same period.

Deferred Financing Costs

The deferred financing costs that are included as a reduction in the net book value of the related liability on our consolidated balance sheets include issuance and other costs related to our debt obligations. These costs are amortized as interest expense using the effective interest method over the life of the related obligations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” Topic of the FASB, or ASC 820, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements under GAAP. Specifically, this guidance defines fair value based on exit price, or the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument, and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.

Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination, as follows:

•

Level 1: Generally includes only unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical financial instruments as of the reporting date.

•

Level 2: Pricing inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, quoted prices in less active or inactive markets for identical or similar instruments where multiple price quotes can be obtained, and other observable inputs, such as interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, and default rates.

•

Level 3: Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. These inputs require significant judgment or estimation by management of third-parties when determining fair value and generally represent anything that does not meet the criteria of Levels 1 and 2.

The estimated value of each asset reported at fair value using Level 3 inputs is determined by an internal committee composed of members of senior management of our Manager, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior officers.

Certain of our other assets are reported at fair value, as of

quarter-end,

either (i) on a recurring basis or (ii) on a nonrecurring basis, as a result of impairment or other events. Our assets that are recorded at fair value are discussed further in Note 15. We generally value our assets recorded at fair value by either (i) discounting expected cash flows based on assumptions regarding the collection of principal and interest and estimated market rates, or (ii) obtaining assessments from third-party dealers. For collateral-dependent loans that are identified as impaired, we measure impairment by comparing our Manager’s estimation of the fair value of the underlying collateral, less costs to sell, to the book value of the respective loan. These valuations require significant judgments, which include assumptions regarding capitalization rates, discount rates, leasing, creditworthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability and cost of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders, and other factors deemed relevant by our Manager.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we recorded an aggregate $69.7 million CECL reserve specifically related to two of our loans receivable, which was unchanged as of June 30, 2021. These two loans have an aggregate outstanding principal balance of $338.7 million, net of cost-recovery proceeds, as of June 30, 2021. The CECL reserve was recorded based on our Manager’s estimation of the fair value of the loan’s underlying collateral as of June 30, 2021. These loans receivable are therefore measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, and are classified as Level 3 assets in the fair value hierarchy. The significant unobservable inputs used to estimate the fair value of these loans receivable include the exit capitalization rate assumption used to forecast the future sale price of the underlying real estate collateral, which ranged from 4.25% to 4.80%.

We are also required by GAAP to disclose fair value information about financial instruments, which are not otherwise reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheet, to the extent it is practicable to estimate a fair value for those instruments. These disclosure requirements exclude certain financial instruments and all

non-financial

instruments.

The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments, for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

•

Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

•

Loans receivable, net: The fair values of these loans were estimated by our Manager based on a discounted cash flow methodology, taking into consideration various factors including capitalization rates, discount rates, leasing, credit worthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability and cost of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders, and other factors deemed relevant by our Manager.

•

Debt securities

held-to-maturity:

The fair value of these instruments was estimated by utilizing third-party pricing service providers assuming the securities are not sold prior to maturity. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing service providers may use broker-dealer quotations, reported trades, or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models to determine the reported price.

•

Derivative financial instruments: The fair value of our foreign currency and interest rate contracts was estimated using advice from a third-party derivative specialist, based on contractual cash flows and observable inputs comprising foreign currency rates and credit spreads.

•

Secured debt, net: The fair value of these instruments was estimated based on the rate at which a similar credit facility would currently be priced.

•

Securitized debt obligations, net: The fair value of these instruments was estimated by utilizing third-party pricing service providers. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing service providers may use broker-dealer quotations, reported trades, or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models to determine the reported price.

•

Asset-specific debt, net: The fair value of these instruments was estimated based on the rate at which a similar agreement would currently be priced.

•

Term loans, net: The fair value of these instruments was estimated by utilizing third-party pricing service providers. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing service providers may use broker-dealer quotations, reported trades, or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models to determine the reported price.

•

Convertible notes, net: Each series of the convertible notes is actively traded and their fair values were obtained using quoted market prices.

Income Taxes

Our financial results generally do not reflect provisions for current or deferred income taxes on our REIT taxable income. We believe that we operate in a manner that will continue to allow us to be taxed as a REIT and, as a result, we generally do not expect to pay substantial corporate level taxes other than those payable by our taxable REIT subsidiaries. If we were to fail to meet these requirements, we may be subject to federal, state, and local income tax on current and past income, and penalties. Refer to Note 13 for additional information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Our stock-based compensation consists of awards issued to our Manager and certain individuals employed by an affiliate of our Manager that vest over the life of the awards, as well as deferred stock units issued to certain members of our board of directors. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized for these awards in net income on a variable basis over the applicable vesting period of the awards, based on the value of our class A common stock. Refer to Note 14 for additional information.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share, or Basic EPS, is computed in accordance with the

two-class

method and is based on the net earnings allocable to our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units, divided by the weighted-average number of shares of our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units outstanding during the period. Our restricted class A common stock is considered a participating security, as defined by GAAP, and has been included in our Basic EPS under the

two-class

method as these restricted shares have the same rights as our other shares of class A common stock, including participating in any gains or losses.

Diluted earnings per share, or Diluted EPS, is determined using the treasury stock method, and is based on the net earnings allocable to our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units, divided by the weighted-average number of shares of our class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units. Refer to Note 11 for additional discussion of earnings per share.

Foreign Currency

In the normal course of business, we enter into transactions not denominated in United States, or U.S., dollars. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising on such transactions are recorded as a gain or loss in our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, we consolidate entities that have a

non-U.S.

dollar functional currency.

Non-U.S.

dollar denominated assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the reporting date and income, expenses, gains, and losses are translated at the average exchange rate over the applicable period. Cumulative translation adjustments arising from the translation of

non-U.S.

dollar denominated subsidiaries are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

Underwriting Commissions and Offering Costs

Underwriting commissions and offering costs incurred in connection with common stock offerings are reflected as a reduction of additional

paid-in

capital. Costs incurred that are not directly associated with the completion of a common stock offering are expensed when incurred.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU

2020-04

“Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting,” or ASU

2020-04.

ASU

2020-04

provides optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP requirements for modifications on debt instruments, leases, derivatives, and other contracts, related to the expected market transition from LIBOR, and certain other floating rate benchmark indices, or

collectively, IBORs, to alternative reference rates. ASU

2020-04

generally considers contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date nor a reassessment of a previous accounting determination. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU

2021-01

“Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope,” or ASU

2021-01.

ASU

2021-01

clarifies that the practical expedients in ASU

2020-04

apply to derivatives impacted by changes in the interest rate used for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment.

The guidance in ASU

2020-04

is optional and may be elected over time, through December 31, 2022, as reference rate reform activities occur. Once ASU

2020-04

is elected, the guidance must be applied prospectively for all eligible contract modifications. In the first quarter of 2020, we have elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients, related to probability and the assessments of effectiveness, for future IBOR-indexed cash flows, to assume that the index upon which future hedged transactions will be based matches the index on the corresponding derivatives. Application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with our past presentation. We continue to evaluate the impact of ASU

2020-04

and may apply other elections, as applicable, as the expected market transition from IBORs to alternative reference rates continues to develop.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU

2020-06

“Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic

470-20)

and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic

815-40):

Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity,” or ASU

2020-06.

ASU

2020-06

simplifies the accounting for convertible debt by eliminating the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models. ASU

2020-06

also updates the earnings per share calculation and requires entities to assume share settlement when the convertible debt can be settled in cash or shares. ASU

2020-06

is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 and is to be adopted through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings either at the date of adoption or in the first comparative period presented. Upon adoption of ASU

2020-06,

convertible debt proceeds, unless issued with a substantial premium or an embedded conversion feature, will no longer be allocated between debt and equity components. This will reduce the issue discount and result in less

non-cash

interest expense in our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, ASU

2020-06

will result in the reporting of a diluted earnings per share, if the effect is dilutive, in our consolidated financial statements, regardless of our settlement intent. We expect to adopt ASU

2020-06

using the modified retrospective method of transition, which we expect will result in an aggregate decrease to our additional

paid-in

capital of $2.4 million and an aggregate decrease to our accumulated deficit of $2.0 million, as of January 1, 2022.

Reference Rate Reform

LIBOR and certain other floating rate benchmark indices to which our floating rate loans and other loan agreements are tied, including, without limitation, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or EURIBOR, the Stockholm Interbank Offered Rate, or STIBOR, the Canadian Dollar Offered Rate, or CDOR, and the Australian Bank Bill Swap Reference Rate, or BBSY, or collectively, IBORs, are the subject of recent national, international and regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. On March 5, 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority of the U.K., or FCA, which has statutory powers to require panel banks to contribute to LIBOR where necessary, announced it would cease publication of certain IBORs, including

one-week

and

two-month

USD LIBOR and all tenors of GBP LIBOR, immediately after December 31, 2021 and cease the publication of the remaining tenors of USD LIBOR immediately after June 30, 2023. Additionally, the Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of Currency, and other interagency regulatory bodies have advised U.S. banks to stop entering into new USD LIBOR based contracts by December 31, 2021.

The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, has identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, a new index calculated using short-term repurchase agreements backed by Treasury securities, as its preferred alternative rate for USD LIBOR. In the U.K., the Bank of England’s working group on Sterling risk free rates set March 31, 2021 as the target date under which GBP LIBOR may no longer be used as the reference rate for new loan products with maturities after December 31, 2021. Market participants have started to transition to the Sterling Overnight Index Average, or SONIA, in line with guidance from the U.K. regulators. As of June 30, 2021, the floating benchmark rate for the financing provided on the 2020 FL3 and 2020 FL2 CLOs is the

30-day

average compounded SOFR, plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.11%. As of June 30, 2021, the

30-day

average compounded SOFR was 0.03% and

one-month

USD LIBOR was 0.10%. Additionally, as of June 30, 2021, the floating benchmark rate on one of our credit facilities is the daily compounded SONIA. As of June 30, 2021, SONIA was 0.05% and three-month GBP LIBOR was 0.08

At this time, it is not possible to predict how markets will respond to SOFR, SONIA, or other alternative reference rates as the transition away from USD LIBOR and GBP LIBOR proceeds. Despite the LIBOR transition in other markets, benchmark rate methodologies in Europe, Canada, and Australia have been reformed and rates such as EURIBOR, STIBOR, CDOR, and BBSY may persist as International Organization of Securities Commissions, or IOSCO, compliant reference rates moving forward. However, multi-rate environments may persist in these markets as regulators and working groups have suggested market participants adopt alternative reference rates.

Refer to “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Lending and Investment Activities—The expected discontinuation of currently used financial reference rates and use of alternative replacement reference rates may adversely affect net interest income related to our loans and investments or otherwise adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and the market value of our investments.” of our Annual Report on Form

10-K

filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021.